Tag: Goa startups

Goan Personalities

IT Minister Rohan Khaunte Inaugurates Goa Pavilion at AI Impact Expo in New Delhi

Tanisha Cardozo

Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism, Printing & Stationery, Government of Goa, inaugurated the Goa Pavilion at the AI Impact Expo held at Bharat Mandapam on February 18, 2026, ahead of the India AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 19-20.

The AI Impact Expo serves as an experiential platform bringing together international, state, enterprise and startup pavilions to showcase cutting-edge innovations and transformative AI solutions. The Goa Pavilion highlights the state’s expanding footprint in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, while also featuring five promising startups — DivvyUp and Grow, Frover Labs Pvt. Ltd., Neural Kissan, Kverty and Phosic India Pvt. Ltd.

The inauguration took place in the presence of Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS, Secretary, ITE&C, and Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, DITE&C, along with other senior officials.

Addressing the gathering, Rohan Khaunte emphasised Goa’s strategic roadmap under the Goa AI Mission 2027, which focuses on AI skilling, citizen-centric service delivery and the establishment of a dedicated AI Skilling Centre and Centre of Excellence to promote research and capacity building. He also underlined the importance of strengthening industry-academia partnerships and nurturing the startup ecosystem to position Goa as a destination where innovation thrives alongside quality of life.

During his visit, the Minister interacted with startup founders at the pavilion and held discussions with representatives from National Association of Software and Service Companies, central government bodies and industry leaders to explore collaboration avenues and attract investment opportunities for the state.

Goa’s participation at the international-level summit reflects its commitment to accelerating digital transformation and reinforcing its emergence as a preferred hub for technology innovation and AI-driven enterprises, while also strengthening its appeal as a global Digital Nomad destination.

TechPulse

Goa Strengthens AI Commitment at India AI Impact Summit 2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Goa is reinforcing its commitment to emerging technologies and future-ready governance with a strong and strategic presence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20, 2026. The summit marks the first major global AI gathering hosted in the Global South and seeks to shape an inclusive, responsible and resilient Artificial Intelligence ecosystem aligned with the vision of People, Planet and Progress.

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, is representing the state at the summit, underscoring its strategic ambition to position Goa as an emerging AI-driven innovation hub within India and on the international stage. The event has drawn participation from political leaders, industry heads, startups and global stakeholders, placing Goa’s initiatives in a broader global conversation on ethical and scalable AI.

During the inaugural knowledge-sharing workshop on AI adoption, Shri Heramb Kanekar from the Startup and IT Promotion Cell, DITE&C, outlined Goa’s AI roadmap and reaffirmed the state’s focus on building citizen-centric and responsible AI solutions. Under the Goa AI Mission 2027, the government has introduced initiatives such as the AI for Governance & Social Impact workshop, AI Hackathons and the launch of an AI Chatbot on the Goa Online Portal. These measures reflect a policy direction that views AI not merely as a technological upgrade, but as a transformative tool to improve public service delivery, enhance transparency, empower startups and drive sustainable economic growth.

A major highlight of the summit is the AI Impact Expo at Bharat Mandapam, an expansive experiential showcase spanning over 70,000 square metres across 10 arenas and featuring more than 840 exhibitors. The expo was inaugurated by Narendra Modi on the opening day, drawing significant national and international attention.

Supported by DITE&C, five Goa-based startups are exhibiting at the expo, demonstrating AI applications across diverse sectors. These include DivvyUp and Grow by Shri Gaurish Datta Pangam and Shri Shivam Kamat; Frover Labs Pvt. Ltd. by Shri Siddharth Manjrekar and Shri Sarvesh Patkar; Neural Kissan by Shri Sai Vitthal Rane; Kverty by Shri Mexson Fernandes; and Phosic India Pvt. Ltd. by Shri Dewansh Choudhary. Their participation highlights the depth and diversity of Goa’s growing innovation ecosystem and the state’s commitment to nurturing AI-led entrepreneurship.

While the expo remains open throughout the summit, the final two days will feature Leaders’ Plenary Sessions, roundtables and panel discussions focusing on how AI can serve humanity, foster inclusive growth and support sustainable development. Through forward-looking policy, strategic collaborations and sustained investment in its startup ecosystem, Goa is positioning itself as a responsible and future-ready AI destination.

Delegates, industry leaders, investors and visitors are invited to explore the Goa Pavilion at Stall No. 4F.21 in Hall No. 4 to experience firsthand how Goan innovators are leveraging Artificial Intelligence to create meaningful, inclusive and sustainable impact.

TechPulse

Goa Building Strong Startup Ecosystem with Capital, Mentorship and Market Access: Minister Rohan Khaunte

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji, February 12, 2026:
The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, through the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), officially launched the Goa Startup Accelerator (GSA) Programme on Wednesday. The initiative aims to provide structured mentorship, market access, investment opportunities and growth support to startups across the state.


The launch event, held at Novotel, Panaji, brought together startups, ecosystem enablers, industry leaders and government officials.

The event was attended by Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism and Printing & Stationery; Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, DITE&C; Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, DITE&C; and D.S. Prashant, CEO, Startup & IT Promotion Cell.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Rohan Khaunte said Goa is steadily emerging as a strong startup destination.

“Today, Goa is not just known for its quality of life, but for its forward-looking policies and a growing startup ecosystem of 734 DPIIT-registered startups, nearly half of which are women-led. Through the Goa Startup Policy 2025 and its 12 comprehensive schemes, along with initiatives like the Goa Accelerator Program and the Goa Open Innovation Challenge, we are creating an environment where startups have access to capital, mentorship, skills, infrastructure and real market opportunities. The Government is committed to providing every possible resource and support,” he said.

The Goa Startup Accelerator Programme is a structured five-month initiative running from February to June 2026. It will culminate in a Demo Day where participating startups will showcase their progress and innovations.

The event began with an orientation session for startups registered under the programme. Participants were briefed on the structure and roadmap of the accelerator. Startups also pitched their ideas to experts and interacted with mentors and fellow entrepreneurs.

Winners of the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 were felicitated during the event. In the startup category, SOLO Network, Cidroy Technologies LLP and So-AIR were honoured. In the student category, Suraj Vishwakarma and team from Padre Conceição College of Engineering, Verna, and Dattaprasad Narendra Prabhu and team from Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, were recognised. The Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 Report was also released by the Minister.

Winners of the MedTech Hackathon, organised by the National Association of Palliative Care for AYUSH & Integrative Medicine (NAPCAIM) in collaboration with DITE&C, were also awarded. The winning teams included Team Biomade, Team My Pallo Friend and Team Kindred Tech.

The programme additionally recognised several government and ecosystem enablers for their contribution to Goa’s growing innovation landscape.

Through forward-looking policies, targeted schemes and collaborative platforms, DITE&C continues to strengthen Goa’s innovation-driven economy and support startups at every stage of growth.

Business

GCCI Hosts Joint Professional Programme on LLP Compliances, Startup Funding and Growth as Part of Startup Week 2026

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 


Panaji, 16 January 2026: The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), in collaboration with the Goa Chapter of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), successfully organised a Joint Professional Programme at GCCI, Panaji, as part of Startup Week 2026. The programme revolved around the themes “Igniting Growth: Startup Funding, Investment & Compliance” and “LLP & its Compliances” and received an encouraging response from entrepreneurs, professionals, startups, MSMEs, and students.



Welcoming the participants, Ms. Pratima Dhond, President, GCCI, underlined the importance of awareness, compliance, governance, and continuous learning for sustainable business growth, particularly within the startup and MSME ecosystem. She highlighted GCCI’s role in supporting businesses through advocacy, capacity building, and professional collaboration.

CS Darshan Karekar, Chairman, ICSI Goa Chapter, stated that startups play a vital role in employment generation and national economic growth. He noted that the objective of the programme was to create awareness about regulatory compliances applicable to startups and business entities.

CA Rohan Bhandare, Hon. Secretary, GCCI, and Chairman, GCCI Taxation & Financial Services Committee, expressed satisfaction at the joint initiative being held on the occasion of National Startup Day. He emphasised that the programme reflected the shared vision of GCCI and ICSI in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and stressed the importance of continued collaboration on knowledge-driven initiatives for strengthening the business and professional community.

The Chief Guest, Ms. Trupti Sharma, ROC-cum-Official Liquidator for Goa, Daman & Diu, advised participants to actively engage with authorities and raise genuine grievances instead of facing compliance challenges in silence. She noted that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) remains receptive to valid concerns raised by stakeholders.

Elaborating on the relevance of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Ms. Sharma explained that the LLP concept was introduced in 2008 and that LLPs now account for nearly one-fourth of the total number of registered companies. She observed that registrations remain relatively low mainly due to lack of awareness. Highlighting LLPs as a preferred structure for family-run businesses, she pointed out that LLPs involve fewer compliances compared to companies, with the LLP agreement being the “soul” of the entity, and also offer easier and faster exit options.

Using an analogy, Ms. Sharma remarked that if MCA is the heart of compliances, professional bodies like ICSI and ICAI act as the arteries, while GCCI functions as the lungs, providing the oxygen necessary for the system to function efficiently.

Guest Speaker CS Vinayak Khanvalkar, Former President of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, delivered an insightful session covering startup funding, investment avenues, and compliance-related aspects in line with the programme agenda.

The programme concluded with an interactive session, allowing participants to seek clarifications and directly engage with the experts. The joint initiative was widely appreciated for its practical insights and relevance to the evolving needs of startups and businesses in Goa.

The event was compered by Ms. Rakhi Malkarnekar, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Shantal Naik. The programme was coordinated by Mr. Sanjay Amonkar, Director General, GCCI, and Mr. Kiran Ballikar, Director, GCCI.

TechPulse

Goa to Host Startup Handholding Programme to Mark National Startup Day 2026

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panjim; January 2026: To celebrate National Startup Day 2026, the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC) under the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, will organise a Startup Handholding Support Programme on January 19, 2026, at the Goa Marriott Resort, Miramar, aimed at strengthening the state’s growing startup ecosystem.


The programme will provide structured, end-to-end guidance to startups on understanding and availing benefits under various Government of India and Government of Goa schemes. Through panel discussions, scheme presentations and an interactive workshop, founders will gain practical insights into compliance requirements, funding readiness and best practices to scale their ventures.
DS Prashant, Chief Executive Officer of SITPC, said the initiative will create a strong engagement platform for startups, incubators, industry associations and ecosystem enablers. He noted that registered startups will receive step-by-step guidance, enhanced awareness of schemes and follow-up assistance to help them successfully access government incentives and support mechanisms.
Along with capacity-building sessions, the event will also felicitate successful startups and recognise key contributors to the Goa startup ecosystem, reinforcing the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and a future-ready, inclusive startup environment in the state.